Key for locks



1944' 5. E. SEIFFERT 2,356,891

KEY FOR LOCKS Filed 001:. s, 1942 INi ENTOR. I OTT E. 55/FFER7 Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY FOR LOCKS Otto E. Seiflert, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 8, 1942, Serial No. 461,309

' (c1. vii-411) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a key for looks. This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 342,003, filed June 24, 1940, for a lock, which has become Patent No. 2,301,755, dated November 10, 1942.

'An object of this invention is to so construct the key that it may be produced by stampings of metal parts or by a combination of forgings and stampings, or die castings, etc. It is proposed that the combination portion of the key in any of the above cases be preferably produced by stampings.

More specifically, the new key comprises a core portion and a plurality of discs mounted thereon. The core portion may be produced by stamping, or may be produced by forging or in similar ways. The plurality of discs which are constructed to comprise the combination of the key may easily, and preferably, be produced by stamping.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the discs mentioned above, or certain of said discs, with radial projections angularly spaced from each other to form the combination of the key. Heretofore, keys have been constructed in which radial elements formed the combinations. However, it is believed to be new to have radial projections angularly spaced in which the angles between the projections control the combination of the key.

Still further the invention contemplates a new and simple means for holding the discs in position on the core of the key.

Another object of the invention resides in arranging the angularly spaced radial projections to progressively increase in angular distances from one end of the key to the other end so that the key may be engaged into a combination lock of the character described in my pending application for a lock, supra, by turning it in one direction or the other, depending upon whether the radial projections produce a right hand spiral key or a left hand spiral key.

The invention also contemplates a simple construction for non-rotatively mounting the discs upon the core so as to maintain the combination of the key. In one form of the invention a noncircular core, such as a square or rectangular core, is proposed and in which the discs have complementary non-circular openings by which they are engaged on the core in a non-rotative way. In another form of the invention a circular core is used which is provided with a radially projecting key element cooperative with keyways in the discs.

' The invention also contemplates supporting the discs upon the corein a slightly resilient fashion so that the radial projections have a s1ight give to facilitate the insertion of the key into the lock.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref erence will be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, and to the append ed claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a key for a lock constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the handle and the core of the key shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of a key constructed in accordance with a modified form of this invention. r Fig. 6 is a transverse enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line l'-"I of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the core of the key illustrated, per se.

The key illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, comprises a handle 54 from which 'a non-circular core 55 projects. A plurality of discs 56a, 56b, 56c, 5611, etc. are formed with central openings which are engaged upon the core 55 and fixedly and nonrotatively holding the discs thereof. Certain of the discs have radial projections 51 which form the combination of the key. The outer end 55a of the core 55 is riveted to fixedly hold said discs in position on the core. The projections 51 preferably appear only on alternate discs. The other discs are round blanks. arranged at progressively increasing angular distances from one end of the key to the other end of the key producing a right hand spiral key or a left hand spiral key, depending upon the direction in which the spiral runs.

The projections 51 are adapted to extend into arcuate cutouts of the disc shaped tumblers in a lock, such as described in my pending lock application, supra. The said discs furthermore form a cylindrical body of the key which is capable of rotatively supporting the disc shaped The projections 51 are tumblers of the look as disclosed in the pending application.

Preferably, the handle 54 is offset from the core 55 to form a guide when the key is used. Thus, the handle 54 may be directed upwards or downwards, or in other directions, depending on the design of the lock. The handle 54 and core 55 may be made from a one piece stamping, or this part may be a forging or a die casting, or formed by other methods. The discs 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, etc., are stampings. It is a simple matter to form a die which may be adjusted to obtain selected angles of positions for the projections 57 in relation to the non-circular openings of the discs.

The key is used by inserting it into the look. If the projections 51 are arranged in progressively increasing angular distances from one end of the key to the other, the key may be inserted into the lock by turningit spirally. It is proposed that the angular distances of the projections 51 relative to each other comprise the combination of the key. With this construction the projections 51 are of, or may be, of identical radial sizes.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in several respects. It distinguishes in the way in which the discs are nonrotatively mounted on the core. More specifically, the core 55' is circular in transverse cross section, that is, it is of cylindrical form. However, it is provided with a radially projecting key element or spline 58. The discs 56a, 56b, 56c, 5611, etc. are formed with keyways 59 cooperative with the key element 58 to hold the discsnon-rotative. The discs may be slipped in position on the core and then the extremity 5511a of the core riveted down to hold the discs against longitudinal movements.

Another feature of the keyconstruction resides in the fact that the key element or spline 58 is formed from resilient material, such as spring steel. In transverse cross section it resembles a question mark, as shown in Fig. 6. The stem of the question mark is set into a groove 60 formed in the core 55 and is permanently held by being a forced fit, welded, etc. The outer portion of the key element 58 is formed with a plurality of cuts 6| spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the thickness of each disc. These cuts 'are aligned with the faces of the discs, as

shown in Fig. 7. Consequently, each disc may be slightly flexed in a circumferential direction depending upon the resiliency of the sections of the key element 58 which is between the cuts 6|. The purpose of having the discs slightly resiliently mounted resides in the fact that the resistance of inserting the key into a lock will be reduced.

In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous form and like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A key for a lock, comprising a handle and cylindrical core having projecting shoulder portions at the inner ends of said handle and core, a plurality of discs with radially projecting portions and having central openings to fit on to said core and closely stacked on said core and against said shoulder portions and extending to the outer end of said core, the outer end of said core being riveted to hold said discs on said core, and a spline of flexible materialmounted on and extending along said core from said shoulder portions to the outer end thereof and extending into a keyway in said discs.

2. A key for a lock, comprising a handle and cylindrical core having projecting shoulder portions at the inner ends of said handle and core, a plurality of discs with radially projecting portions and having central openings to fit on to said core and closely stacked on said core and against said shoulder portions and extending to the outer end of said core, the outer end of said core being riveted to hold said discs on said core, and a spline of flexible material mounted on and extending along said core from said shoulder por- 1 tions to the outer end thereof and extending into a keyway in said discs, said spline having cuts spaced from each other and dividing off portions of said spline, which portions engage difierent ones of said discs.

OTTO E. SEIFFERT. 

